The Mrs. and I caught this fascinating documentary while in Palm Springs attending the International Film festival.
After covering early technology (steam powered vibrators??), things settled down with the development of smaller electric models. They were quite popular from the late 1800’s to the 1920’s, and were sold via many find catalogues, including Sears. All labelled discreetly as “muscle tension reliever” or “stress cure”, etc.
Sadly in the 1920’s they were shown in pornographic photos, being used for what most women were employing them for, and the resultant uproar caused them to disappear from most respectable stores and catalogues. Still, they could be found in barbers or beauticians supply shops, as ‘scalp massagers’.
The movie goes on to explore the impact of Texas’ laws, which make sales of vibrators illegal, and also makes it a criminal offense to own more than 5 such devices. It tells the story of the arrest of a married woman, an elementary school teacher whose crime was hosting ‘passion/schtupperware parties’ for women, where such devices were were sold a la tupperware to interested attendees.
Also explored was the history of the diagnosis of ‘hysteria’. This so-called disease entity was applied to women who were sexually aroused, and the treatment was manual manipulation by male physicians until the symptoms cleared (yes, really!)
The whole movie is pretty much PG rated, and will disappoint anyone looking for a mere thrill.
The Mrs. liked it so much, she bought two copies of the DVD!
There’s a book called The Technology of Orgasm: “Hysteria,” the Vibrator, and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction by Rachel Maines (either she or the book is probably connected with that documentary somehow), mostly about “hysteria” and its “treatment”; it’s a riot. She points out that for a couple of hundred years at least the majority of male doctors treating “hysteria” have apparently been unable to recognize female sexual arousal and orgasm, even though they were almost all married…
There are alot of ‘blue laws’ in Texas. I remember that womans case. If I remember correctly, she refused to call them “marital aids”. She spoke plainly.
In the area she lived and worked, and this was like sex toy thing like tupperware, and some folks just didn’l like her.
The blue laws are nutty here. I can buy anything online. But if I try to find it in a store? No.
Oh, I have no trouble believing that. It reminds me a bit of the modern practice where a wife, suffering unspecified frustration and unhappiness, talks to her shrink about all the frustration she experiences in her marriage. Doc lends a trained and supportive ear and the woman feels better. Of course, she really should be talking to her husband. But she doesn’t know that attention is what she needs, and her hubby never learned to listen, and doesn’t knwo why his wife is so unhappy and so resentful.
I remember the “toy party” - I was supposed to go to one with a friend and didnt get to because of work… the lady who got busted lived in the neighboring town. It was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard.
